Elevate September 2017 | Air Serbia

Dušan Zarić je vlasnik njujorških barova Employees Only i Macao i suosnivač Američkog instituta za barmene Dušan Zarić is the owner of the New York bars “Employees Only” and “Macao”, as well as being a

fied with themselves, more open, cheer- ful, better... - I remember how enjoyable it was to serve Brad Pitt. He drank cocktails from our menu and didn’t invent anything. He was interested in how we work and it was cool that he stayed much longer than planned. Everyone from his entourage hurried him up, but he was still sitting. And it’s nice when you get confirmation of what you do from someone who is positive and famous, and is not obsessed with himself. I also got a thank you note from him, a hand-written card – recalls Dušan, from whom Brad Pitt is only one in a series of celebrities he has served in Manhattan.

He reveals that everyone who does this job must deeply love working with people, love being at the centre of at- tention, and enjoying being at the ser- vice of others, because serving others is a privilege. However, this craft is not easy. - There’s almost no bartender older than 50. People burn out; they can’t han- dle it. That has happened to me many times too, that happens to everyone who works with people – he says. To ensure that this doesn’t become the case for him, he takes care of his team. They all occasionally go paintballing together, go-kart racing, to olive orchards and oyster farms...

- At Employees Only my people all leave a little money in an envelope after their shift. Then, if someone cuts himself and can’t work for a month and a half, we use that mon- ey to pay their rent and give them money for living. And if everything goes well for a while, we all go to Mexico to learn how to make tequila, or go to Kentucky to discov- er the secrets of the bourbon. His life is not just the bar. There are al- so yoga, meditation, martial arts, rock‘n’roll. -Myworldismyfamily.That’swhyImost enjoy drinking with my wife - says Dušan in conclusion, referring to his girl from No- vi Sad, who once, long ago, walked into his bar and stole his heart.

co-founder of the American Bartenders Association

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